Review of Broadway Danny Rose (1984) by Zak S — 03 Jul 2011

One of Woody Allen's lesser seen gems. Some of the outrageous comedy in this film is tied down by the subtextual loneliness of Allen's brilliant performance as the small-time talent agent. Danny Rose is a larger than life nobody and in my opinion could easily be seen as the most glorious of all of Woody Allen's characters - a man who rather than complaining endlessly about life (like in Allen's most famous guises), can continually see the positives and has the ability, in his own small way, to lift people and see the absolute best in them.

This guy was born to lose, but even when the world starts to turn against him, he rises to the challenge and gets his just reward, by having a deli sandwich named after him. Allen is not just a master of comedy; when his films are at their absolute best, his ability to inject pathos through facial expression and beautiful camera technique is one of the great wonders of cinema - and this is one such example.